The Admiral of the fleet in the ME was relieved of duty..Is the WH looking for scapegoats? If so, I hope these men speak up for the sake of the Country.
They took an Oath to obey the Constitution, NOT the President.

Panetta is a bureaucratic political sychophant who knows nothing of how the military should operate. It appears he was caught short on knowing how to handle a situation and was upstaged. In the future, Panetta should go sit in a corner and play PacMan.

Regardless of what transpired in that meeting, Leon Panetta should resign immediately. Les Aspin resigned after the Mogadishu disaster.

The rumor of this demands an investigation. Since the Senate must approve the promotion to replace him the Republicans must demand one and have a hearing.

The twisted spin from the Obama administration and the media coverup continue, but we do know that our men did in Benghazi did not receive help even though it was available not far away. These American heroes fought for 7 hours. Plenty of time for help to arrive.
Obama went to sleep and started lying in the morning.

Where is Donald Rumsfeld when we need him......

We were tasked on under "Must Reads" thusly: "Something is wrong here, really wrong. Let's spend the weekend finding out what." Like to think the writers Glenn Reynolds and Mike Johnson are tracking out site, cuz we've been on the Gen Ham angle all day. I suspect the key player re Zero's Libya policy is NS Advisor Tom Donilon, the former FannieMae VP, co-chair to Wendy Sherman for Hillary's transition, team to State and Bill's hatchet man at State under Warren Christopher. Ghadaffi amassed $260billion in his sovereign wealth fund in just 5 years after sanctions were lifted with 40% of that under management in the US which was frozen during the ouster of Ghadaffi. Follow the money! You don't drop bombs in Libya or deploy AC130s to save Americans fighting for their lives, if you're goal is to install a govt to control unimaginable sums...and if Gens Ward, Ham and others get in your way, you set them up and replace them...

If General Ham defied the gutless moral cowards above him, I salute him. If the spineless weasels think General Rodriguez will be a lapdog, they've got another thing coming.

Sorry for the second post, but gotta give a major Hear! Hear! to #8...Gen Rodriguez has major clangers, just like at least two of those above him, Gens Austin and especially Gen Odierno...true warfighters. Ham co-chairing the group that paved the way for the Zero's ending DADT just prior to being awarded command of AFRICOM and then bowing to the "lead from behind" strategy in Libya, made me a little jaundiced...

So a General as well as an Admiral, not to mention a US Ambassador, are politically inconvenient. Did they help make the video that 'made them do it?'

An Ambassador down or in trouble is not a trivial matter. This is a very high priority, one step below from POTUS down. A commander in the region, such as General Ham will respond. It's second nature. If his rapid reaction force was aware they would have been loaded up and chomping at the bit to deploy. The enemy has attacked your soil. Don't blame Panetta this lies at the feet of Obama and Valerie Jarrett.

Panetta is a thug. Has always been. Does not deserve to be in the office he holds. He will do whatever the capo says.

Of the three people in that meeting, Leon Panetta, Gens. Dempsey and Ham, two have already been defined here.

#2 Clearly defines Panetta, the head eunuch.

#9 Tells us something about Gen. Ham which is unsettling.

It remains for Reuters to give us perspective on the sad spinelessness of Gen. Dempsey, Chairman of the JCS. To wit:

"(Reuters) [Sept 12, 2012}- General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke with Pastor Terry Jones by phone on Wednesday and asked him to withdraw his support for a film whose portrayal of the Prophet Mohammad has sparked violent protests - including one that ended with the death of America's envoy to Libya. "In the brief call, Gen. Dempsey expressed his concerns over the nature of the film, the tensions it will inflame and the violence it will cause," Dempsey's spokesman, Colonel Dave Lapan, told Reuters."

http://tinyurl.com/9ekuywf

Pathetic when the top military man in the Armed Services is directed to make a phone call to a U.S. citizen...IN SUPPORT OF A LIE!

This reminds me of the "cleansing" many dictators have originated

Our military forces were told to stand down, the kind of order that our heroes in the service are likely to ignore. Now Defense is denying that order was given. Panetta should have resigned before giving the order. Now he should resign for denying it was given,

Bottom line, this administration is NOT about serving America's best interests.

Concur with #13!

THE senior US military officer, Gen. Demsey, calls a civilian with a "request."?
This is outrageous, and possibly illegal.

Our media should have boldly publicized this officer's dereliction of duty.

Where is the warrior ethos in the top ranks that they demand that us soldiers have?

An unholy end to an unholy presidency.

Funny, when I first saw the headline, I thought "General Ham" was a reference to our potus, who loves to ham it up.

I've always had the conviction that no dictator could ever take over this country because the military would never go along with it. Now I'm not so sure...

General Ham was not in the area on Sept 11, 2012.

The US Armed Forces now has two separate commanders - the military and the politically correct . Those in the second bunch look to advance their careers the easy way , and the safe way - simply bow to the whims of the politicians. No PC commander had the cajones' to take responsibility so we got the awful outcome . The ' Blackhhawk Down ' is another prime example and was what gave Bin Laden the reasoning to move forward with his plans. He saw America was willing to back off when PC politicians were involved . A Barbara Boxer is no match for a dedicated terrorist .

I see the hand of God in all this happening, leading up to the election, to get rid of Obama. I also see the MSM doing it's level best to thwart the hand of God by not covering this scandal as it should. We can all imagine that had this all happened under a Republican president (we all know it would not have, but humor me) demands of impeachment and resignation would have been made 24/7 for the past six weeks.

Nanner-nose paneta your day of shame is awaiting you.

When President Romney takes office in January it is urgent that he replaces the perfumed princes and political apparatchiks that Obama and Panetta have appointed as flag officers in our military. It disgusts me to see what they are doing to our magnificent military.

Ham refused to stand down. He acted. It is said he was fired within 30 seconds to one minute later.

It looks like house cleaning is required at DOD.
The main effort of this administration has been to implement open homosexuality in all the services despite the objection of most fresent and former flag officers. And don't forget putting women on our submarines.
Meawhile war fighting and protection of american assets around the world are neglected.
He has fundementally changed our nation as he promised.

Hang tough, #18, and remain true to your conscience and your oath. You're not alone. We have your back, as you have ours.

Panetta and Dempsey are two losers who suck up to anyone above them that will bend over and pat their heads saying: "Work with me, you're so smart I need you!"

Clinton knew that as does Obama-Mao.

Here here, #18.

They take an oath to protect and defend against foreign and domestic enemies. America has never had a more dangerous domestic enemy.

In our post-Obama world:

"New Media" = Media/Press

"Old Media" = Democratic Party

Makes everything make far more sense.

Must see video. It would go to this article. Starts at about one minute and fifteen seconds in. Part one and two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwnP9vK_4Us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk2bPHpBc_c

FYI...General Ham is a Combatant Commander (Africa Command)and works DIRECTLY for the Secretary of Defense who works DIRECTLY for the President...the Chairman of the Joint Staffs is NOT a commander and is not in General Ham's direct Chain of Command...therefore what General Ham did or did not do was approved or disapproved by Panetta and Obama...just saying

The American media (most of it anyhow) is a bigger enemy to Americans than AQ could ever hope to be.

When four star generals are relieved like this, it is time for the Congress to determine why, and for the media to report the facts to the American people.

Now there is a story out of another one fired.
quote from article that is not in must reads. but you can find here at lucianne

"In an unusual move, the Navy has replaced an admiral commanding an aircraft carrier strike group while it is deployed to the Middle East. The replacement was prompted by an Inspector General’s investigation of allegations of inappropriate leadership judgment. Rear Adm. Charles M. Gaouette, the commander of the USS John C. Stennis strike group, is being returned to the United States for temporary reassignment. In a statement the Navy said it had approved a request made by Vice Adm. John W. Miller, the Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, to temporarily reassign Gaouette “pending the results"

inappropriate leadership.. what is going on here??

Remember America...Bill Clinton DECIMATED the military during his 8 years of bimbo-ing. Clinton passed over Academy Grads and other fine officers for the quota crowd of females, minorities and don't-ask-don't-tell until the Republican Congress stopped him!! While there are MANY fine Officers in todays military, there are many Clinton lapdogs in command positions and Obama knows is using them. The Depts of Defense, Pentagon, Justice and State are infested with anti-American Liberals whose job it is to undermine the strength of the Military every chance they get and turn it into yet another politically correct broken mess. Homeland Security Napolitano listed our returning soldiers as "potential terrorists" because just like the 3 BRAVE men who gave their lives trying to save our Ambassador - Obama knows our brave, patriots WILL FIGHT TO THE DEATH to save America!!!

#38 - I have the same question, what's up with the Rear Adm. Charles M. Gaouette situation? Maybe it is something different, but it really smells funny considering the timing.

Last night I watched "Acts of Valor," a movie about Navy Seals and how they're trained as a team risking their lives to save one American in trouble. The movie was based a real life acts of valor and could not be better timed as the present to illustrate the extraordinary skills and training these men have.
Further, I still would like an investigation into that helicopter accident that killed several of our best Seals months after the Bin Laden killing. The story they (the White House) released about that incident is as flimsy as the Benghazi debacle.

This thread is worth bookmarking for the information contained in the comments.

There was a rumor a while back that Obama was vacillating on taking out bin Laden and that it was Panetta who took it upon himself and gave the order to go without Obama's authority; that he did what the president refused to do. Perhaps this time he didn't do the president's job for him. Perhaps this time he passed on the president's order to stand down. It's easy to try to hang Panetta, but now I'm not willing to. The president makes these decisions, or is supposed to. I'm not defending Panetta. I just don't know yet what happened.

This isn't over by a long sight.

John Bolton mentioned the other day that he would like to hear what Gen. Ham has to say about the events of 9/11/12.

#22, On another site, it was mentioned that Gen. Ham/AFRICOM are based in Germany.

22 - please elaborate

I'll say it again: what would happen in our country if we had commonsensical/conservative mainstream media?
And isn't it the time we demand that Republicans work hard on this issue?
Remember, the leftist in America (like in fascist germany and commie russia)have the influence because they clearly understand the importance of propaganda and community organizing!

Let's wait and see at what rank these two retire. It takes Congressional approval to retire at the 3 or 4 Star rank....

Where's General Mchrystal when we need him?

Panetta, like most people in this administration is a two bit lawyer. What makes him qualified? Same with Hilliary. Two bit lawyer from Arkansas. Don't get me started on Obama ...

This reminds me of what we learned of the events of Clinton when they had Bin Laden in their sights and asked for permission to take him out. They sat and listened as silence met them from the president on the phone. We all know what happened after that.
It could be that Panetta is covering his you know what by saying .. I never told anyone NOT to go..
How convoluted is that? I guess he learned how to double speak well while in the Clinton WH.

Hi folks. Gen Ham was fired within 1 minute after he told Panetta that he was going to send his team to help our people under fire. His 2nd in command was made to take over, and stand down. Maybe after the election, we will get the full story of this disasterious fiasco.

Keep in mind Fox's Jennifer Griffin's expose that requests for help in Benghazi were denied.
When pressed for her sources she said they are"as good as it gets."